The massacres and damage caused by armed criminal gangs in Haiti are numerous. They murdered thousands of people, raped thousands of women, forced hundreds of thousands of families to flee, burned hundreds of houses, etc.
To plan and coordinate their criminal activities, these armed gangs use SIM cards sold without control on the Haitian market and not registered by mobile phone companies.
The two mobile telephone operators in Haiti (Digicel and Natcom) are reluctant, in fact, to deactivate unregistered SIMs for several main reasons:
Loss of revenue: Unregistered IS can generate revenue for operators through calls, messages and data usage. Disabling these SIMs would result in potential revenue loss. Customer Service: Sudden deactivation of unregistered SIMs may cause disruption for users who are not aware of this policy. This can lead to an increase in customer service calls and complaints, which requires additional resources to manage. Impact on competition: In some cases, operators may be concerned that deactivating unregistered SIMs will drive users to competitors that have more lax SIM registration policies. Due to these factors, officials in Haiti should take a phased approach to ensure that all SIM cards used in Haiti are registered, for example by setting a limited date for this obligation to be fulfilled by all users. After this date, any unregistered SIM card is simply deactivated.
Remember that the policy ofnon-obligatory registration of mobile phone SIMs contributes to the development of the activities of armed criminal gangs in several ways:
1. **Anonymity of communications:** Unregistered SIMs allow criminals to make anonymous communications, making it more difficult for authorities to track their activities and bring them to justice.
In Africa and the Caribbean, criminal groups have been known to use unregistered SIMs to coordinate their activities. For example, in Nigeria, organized crime groups like Boko Haram have been reported to use unregistered SIMs to communicate and plan terrorist attacks, making it difficult for authorities to locate and stop them.
2. **Facilitation of illicit activities:** Criminals can use unregistered SIMs to coordinate illicit activities such as drug trafficking, theft, or even terrorism, without fear of being easily identified by authorities.
In countries like Jamaica, gangs often use unregistered SIMs to coordinate drug and gun trafficking. These SIMs allow gangs to stay in contact with their suppliers and distributors while avoiding detection by authorities.
3. **Avoidance of surveillance:** Criminals may regularly swap new, unregistered SIMs to avoid communications surveillance by authorities, making it more difficult to gather intelligence and prevent crimes.
Criminals may regularly swap unregistered SIM cards to avoid communications surveillance. For example, in some African countries where criminal networks are active, drug traffickers frequently change their telephone numbers to avoid being traced by law enforcement.
4. **Difficulty in investigations :** The lack of identifying data linked to unregistered SIMs makes it more difficult for authorities to trace the activities of criminals and gather solid evidence to prosecute them, which can hamper criminal investigations.
In Haiti, for example, where organized crime is a persistent problem, the widespread use of unregistered SIMs complicates criminal investigations. Authorities struggle to trace criminals’ calls and messages when they use unregistered SIMs, making it difficult to collect evidence for prosecution.
5. **Destabilization of public security :** The widespread use of unregistered SIMs by criminals may contribute to the destabilization of public security by enabling the coordination and execution of large-scale criminal acts, thereby affecting social peace and stability.
In Sierra Leone, rebel groups and urban gangs have used unregistered SIMs to coordinate criminal activities, including kidnappings and extortion. This widespread use of unregistered SIMs has contributed to the destabilization of public security in the country, affecting the daily lives of citizens and hindering economic development.
Let us also recall the advantages provided by the obligation to register SIMs by telephone operators in the fight against armed criminal gangs:
– Communications traceability :SIM registration allows authorities to track the communications of criminals, making it easier to track their activities and collect evidence to prosecute them. For example, in Rwanda, where SIM registration is mandatory, authorities have been able to use this data to dismantle criminal networks.
– Identification des suspects :When SIMs are registered, telephone operators have identifying information about users, making it easier to identify suspects involved in criminal activities. In Uganda, for example, SIM registration has allowed authorities to trace and arrest gang members involved in kidnapping and extortion.
– Prevention of criminal activities: By making it more difficult for criminals to communicate anonymously, SIM registration can deter or reduce the extent of certain types of criminal activity. For example, in Kenya, SIM registration has helped reduce cases of phone fraud and extortion.
International cooperation : As part of the fight against transnational crime, SIM registration can facilitate cooperation between authorities in different countries. SIM registration data can be shared with other countries to track the activities of criminals operating abroad. Improved public safety: By reducing the use of mobile phones in criminal activities, SIM registration helps enhance public safety and protect citizens from crime. For example, in Ghana, where SIM registration is mandatory, authorities have seen a decrease in cases of mobile phone theft and extortion.
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